Repeating mechanism for talking machines



J. c. HITCHNER REPEATING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MACHINES Dec. 25, 1923. 1,478,827 I Filed June 4, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR gx M ,6? Y I i In .4 Y ATTORNYS Dec. 25 1923.

- J. C. HITCHNER REPEATING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MACHINES Filed June 4, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. WERE" Emm ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 25, 1923.

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JOSEPH O. HITGHNER, OFI-IAIVZMONTOILNEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO CHENEY TALK- ING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPOR-ATION OF ILLINOIS.

BEPEATING MECHANISM Application filed June at,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH C. HITOHNER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammonton, county of Atlantic, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Repeating Mechanism for Talking Ma chines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a repeating mechanism for talking machines whereby after the placing of a record the sound box will be automatically lifted from the record, automatically returned to its initial or starting position and automatically lowered to bring the stylus into engagement with the record to enable the immediate replaying of the same selection.

It further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of controlling devices which are automatically set into operation when the stylus of the sound box has reached the limit of its travel in the impression grooves of a record so that the other portions of the repeating mechanism are operatively connected with the motor, the parts being timed in such a manner that the sound box is first lifted from the record, then returned to its initial or starting position, and then lowered to cause the stylus of the sound box to re-engage the first impression grooves of the record.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly ap pear in the detailed description of the invention. I I

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion, I have shown in-the accompanying drawings, a typical embodiment of it which is at present preferred by me, since such embodiment will give in practive satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that this embodiment is typical only and that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a repeating attachment for talking machines, such attachment being shown in assembled position with respect to the talking machine.

i re 2 r pres nt a s ction on line 2-2 of g e 1..

FOR TALKING JMTACHINIEIS.

1920. serial n se'a'seo.

Figure 3 represents a section on line'3-3 of Figure 2. y I

Figure 4 represents a front elevationof a mutilated gear employed.

Figure 5 represents a section on line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5. v

Figure 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 represents a section on line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 represents a section taken inthe same line of Figure 8 but showing the parts in different relation from each other from that shown in Figure 8.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts;

Referring to the drawings.

.1 designates the casing of a talking ma chine' which may be of any desired or conventional construction. The talking machine is provided in the usual manner with a motor2 which is 'operatively connected with a turn table shaft 3 in order to rotate it, and thereby the turn table 4: carried by said shaft 3. The talking machine is provided in the usual manner with a tone arm 5 to which is connected by means of a neck 6 the sound box 7 which latter is adapted to receive a stylus 8. The turn table shaft 3 has a gear 9 adapted to be engaged at certain times with a mutilated gear 10. the detailed construction of which will be more clearly seenin Figure 4. This mutilated gear 10is fixed to a shaft 11 mounted in journals 12 carried in any desired manner by a fixed portion of the talking machine. The shaft 11 has fixed to it an eccentric 13 which travels within an eccentric strap 14 the internal contour of which is preferably rectangular, as will be best understood by referenceto Figure 3. The strap l thas swiveled in it the head 15 of a rod 16 which latter is iournalledin a bearing sleeve 17 and is provided with a pin 18 which extends into a slot 19 in thesleeve 17. Thesleeve 17is provided with a collar 20 rotatably mounted in a bearing 21 carried by the casing 1 The upper end of the rock shaft 16 is bifurcated as indicated at 22 to receive one end of a lever 23 which is pivoted to the bifurcated portion 22 by means of a pin arm 5 and terminates in a curved arm 26 which bears against the neck 6 order to et- 7 feet at the proper time the littin or lowering of said goose-neck and thereby of the sound box carried by the neck.

The tone armo is provided with an ad justing screw 27 adapted to engage an arm 28 one end of which is pivoted in a rock shaft 29 rotatably mounted in the casing 1..

The lower end or the rock shaft 29 is provided with a hemispherical portion 30 which partially surrounds the shaft 11 and the shaft 11 is provided with an arm 31 which co-operates at certain times with the hemispherical portion 30 and with the rock shaft 29 as will hereinafter appear in the detailed description of the operation of my invention.

The bearing sleeve 17 at its lower end is provided with a laterally extending rod 32 having at its free end a head 33, and mounted to slide on the rod 32 is a shoe 8st having the upwardly extending spaced pins 35 and a donmwardly extending arm 36. see in particular Figures 2 and 7.

The shaft 11 has adjustably mounted thereon a plurality of cams the number of which depends upon the diiierent sizes of the records which are to be played and since the records commonly employed are either ten inch or twelve inch records. I have shown two cams the cam 37 being for a ten inch record and the cam 38 being for a twelve inch record. course be understood that any desired number of cams may be employed. These are adjustably'po sitioned on the shaft 11 by means of a set screw 40,, Positioned between the pins 35 is a curved arm 4-1 having at one end the stops 42 and connected at its opposite end to a rotatable adjust-.

able. arm 48 which is journalled in the casing 1 and provided with an actuating handle 4.4. This operating and adjusting handie 44 is provided with apointer 4:5, and a disc 46 is provided having calibrations 4.7 so that the operator can readily adjust the rod 43 to cause the arm 36 to cooperate with the proper cam such as 37 or .38 in accordance with the size of the record which is being played.

The operation otrny novel repeating attachment for talking macl'iines will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art'to which this invention appertains and 'is as follows:-

overinto the position seen in Figures '1 and 2; the travel of the tone arm 5 due to the" engagement of'the stylus 8'with the It will of impression groove of the record will bring the adjusting screw 27 into contact with the arm 28 as the stylus reachesthe end of the impression groove of the record. This engagement of the adjustingscrew 27 with the arm 28 causes a partial rotation of the rock-shaft 29 so as to eiiect a release of the stop 31 on the shaft- 11.

he eccentric 13 is weightec at 48, see

Figure 3, so that as soon as the stop formed by the arm 31 is released the shaft 11 will be suiiiciently rotated to bring the teeth of the mutilated gear 10 into mesh with the gear 9 on the turntable 3, so that one revolution is imparted to the shaft'll. it will be seen that the rock shaft- 29 has an oil-set from which extends a curved arm 30 so that as the stop 31 revolves aboutone half a revolution from the position seen in Figure 5; it will co-operate with the curvedarm 30, which when the rock'shaft 29 is rocked brings the free end of the arm 30 nearer to the shaft 11, so that the roclr shaft 29 and its adjuncts will bereturned to their initial position.

The eccentric'strap 14: due to the rotation of the eccentric 13 causes a downward pull on the rod 16 thereby rocking the lever 23 to move its curved arm 26 into engagement with the neck and cause the neck to be raised thereby raising the stylus out of engagement with the impression groove of the record. This curved arm 26 of the lever 23 is normally out of engagement with the neck so thatthe rise and fall of the sound box during the playing operation is not interfered with.

The rotation of the. shaft llclauses the cams 37 and 3 8 to rotatfe in unison with it and assuming for example that the cam 37 is to effect the 'opera'tionr'it transferring the sound box to its initial 'orstarting position this cam will contact withthe arm 36 therebyrocking the rod 82 which is connected to the rotatable head or sleeve 17. Due to the manner in which ,the rod 16 is connected with the slceve'l'i this'roclc ing or partial rotation of the rod 32 causes the tone arm and sound box to be returned to their initial or starting position at which time the eccentric 13 causes the rods 16'to move upwardly thereby permitting the stylus 8 to come into engagemei...- with the record. As the'turntable is continuously revolving the replaying oi tliesame piece of the record will be efi'ect'ed'.

The tone arm and sound boxare' pre vented from being moved beyond their initial or starting position due to momentum by'one of the stops 42011 the curved arm 41 and one of the pins 35" carried byjthe rod 32; The operation which'has just been described relates to one side of therecord.

such as for example, a twelve inch record, the handle 44 is actuated to bring the shoe 34 into such position on the rod '12 that the arm 36 will be in path ofthe cam 38 and the operation just described will be repeated, the only diflerence being that the outer stop 42 contacting with the outer pin 35, see Figures 8 and 9, will limit the outward throw of the tone tube andsound box, as will be apparent to those skilled in this art. If the arm 41 is adjusted to its neutral position then the pins will not engage with the stops 42.

Whenever the mutilated gear 10 is brought into action it will be apparent that the shaft 11 will rotate until the dwell portion of the'gear is brought into the path of the teeth of the gear 9 at which time the arm 31 comes into engagement with the curved lower end of the rock shaft 29 and the repeating mechanism will be retained in its actuating position ready to be released again as soon as the rock shaft 29 is par tially rotated due to the contact of the adjusting screw 27 with the arm 28.

t will be apparent that my novel construction of repeating attachment can be readily attached to the usual or conventional type of talking machine in which a disk record is used since it is only necessary to secure the attachment in position, so that it will be intergeared with the turntable shaft.

It will now be apparent that I have deyised a new and useful repeating mechanism for talking machines which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. In a repeating attachment for talking machines in combination, a tone arm and itsneck, a lever fulcrumed von said tone arm to effect the raising and lowering of the neck at the proper time, a turntable shaft, a gear thereon, a second shaft, a mutilated gear onsaid secondshaft co-operating with the turntable shaft gear and controlled by the position of the tone arm, a connection from said lever to said second shaft to actuate said lever, and means actuated by said second shaft and co-operating with said connection to effect the re turn of the tone arm to its initial position after a record has been played.

2. In a repeating attachment for talking machines in combination, a tone arm and its neck, a' lever fulcrumed on said tone arm to effect the raisingand lowering of the neck at the proper time, a turntable shaft, a second shaft, a gear'on said turntable shaft, a mutilated gear onsaid second shaft to co-operate with said gear and controlled by said tone arm, aconnection from said lever to said second, shaft toactuate said lever, and means actuated by said second shaft and co-operating with said connection I to effect the return of the tone arm to its initial position after a record has been played, said means being adjustable to vary the travel of the tone arm in its return movement and thereby adapt the feeding attachmentto co-operate with records hav actuate said lever, means actuated by said second shaftand co-operating' with. said connection to effect the return of the tone arm to its'initial position after a record has been played, and means carried by said tone arm to control the operation of said second shaft.

' 4. In a repeating attachment for talking machines in combination, the tone arm and its neck, the turntable shaft, a second shaft,

a gear on said turntable shaft, a mutilated gear on said second shaft to co-operate with said turntable shaft gear and controlled by said tone arm, an eccentric on said second shaft, a lever carried by said tone arm ilii) actuated by said eccentric and controlling the raising and lowerin of said neck, means actuated by said secon shaft to effect the return of said tone arm to its initial position, andv a manually actuated detent for v said second shaft.

5. In a repeating attachment for talking machines in combination, the tonetube and its neck, the turntable shaft, a gear on said turntable shaft, a second shaft, a mutilated gear on said second shaft to mesh with said turntable shaft gear, an eccentric on said second shaft, a connection actuated by said eccentric, a lever carried by said tone arm operated by said connection and adapted to effect the raising and lowering of said neck, a cam on said second shaft adapted to cooperate with said connection to effect the return of said tone arm to its starting position, a rock shaft co-operating with said second shaft to effect its starting and stopping, and means carriedby said tonearm to actuate said rock shaft.

6. In a repeating attaching for talking machines in combination, the tone tube and its neck, the turntable shaftna gear on said,

turntable shaft, a second shaft, a mutilated gear on said second shaft to mesh with said second turntable shaft'gear, an eccentric on said second shaft, a connection actuated by said eccentric, a lever carried bysaidtone arm operated by said connection and adapted to effect the raising and lowering of said neck, a cam on said second shaft adapted to co-operate with said connection to effect the return of said tone arm to its starting position, a rock shaft co-operating-ivith said second shaft to effect its starting and stop-- ping, an arm pivotally carried by said rock shaft, and means carried by said tone armto contact With said arm and actuate said rock shaft.

7, In a repeating attachn'ient for talking adapted to effect the raising and lowering of saidneck, acam on said second shaft adapted to co-operate W1th-sa1d con'nectlon to effect the return of said tone arm to its starting position, a rock shaft co-operating with said second shaft to'eifect its starting and stopping, an arm pivotally carried'by saidrock shaft, means carried by said tone arm to contact Withsaid arm and actuate said rock shaft, said arm when swung over on its pivot being out of the path ofsaid means. 5 8. Ina repeating mechanism, in combination, a driving gear anda mutilated gear arranged to be engaged With said driving gear, means normally restraining rotation of said mutilated gear, a tone arm, and a cam actuable by said mutilated gear foreffecting a return-of said tone arm to initial position, said means being arranged to be actuated bysaid tone arm to release said mutilated gear to engage the driving gear. 9. in a repeating mechanism, a tone arm, a driving gear, a mutilated gea'r'normally disengaged from said driving gear, means holding said mutilated gear in disengaged relation, said tone arm adapted to engage said means "to release said mutilated gear, weight means'biasing said mutilated gear to engage said driving gear, and cam means operated by said mutilated gear'to restore the tone arm to initial position.

JOSEPH C. HITCHNER. Witnesses vH. S. FAIRBANKS,

G. D. MCVAY. 

